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121 lbs lighter and with ten horsepower more than the Cayman S, the new
mid-engine coupe from Porsche is designed for spectacular road behavior. With
its specially adapted sports chassis, it provides an even more precise driving
experience than the Cayman S. The Cayman R makes its world debut today at the
Los Angeles Auto Show.
The new mid-engine coupe is powered by a tuned-up 3.4-liter six-cylinder
engine developing 330 hp. In the standard configuration it transmits its power
to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car from 0 to
60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Or there is the option of the seven-speed Porsche
Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) that reduces its acceleration time to 4.7 seconds.
For even more impressive sprinting performance, the Cayman R can be supplied
with one of the optional Sport Chrono packages, taking it to 60 mph in 4.5
seconds. The new mid-engine coupe is capable of a top speed of 175 mph with
manual gearbox, or 174 mph with PDK. Its NEDC fuel consumption is 9.7 l/100 km
with six-speed gearbox and 9.3 l/100 km with PDK. The main aim during the design
of the Cayman R was to improve the two-seater even further in its performance,
driving dynamics and agility through consistent weight reduction. With a DIN
unladen weight of just 2855 lbs the Porsche engineers were able to reduce the
power-to-weight ratio of the coupe with standard manual gearbox to 8.6 lbs per
horsepower, with the PDK version weighing 8.8 lbs per horsepower. The largest
savings were achieved through the use of lightweight components and doing
without convenience equipment. As for the 911 GT3/GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder, an
optional lithium-ion lightweight construction battery is also available. In
addition, the top model in the mid-engine coupe is equipped with the lightest 19
inch wheels the entire Porsche range can offer. The complete rim set weighs less
than 88 lbs.
The Cayman R's purpose and purist character can be seen at
first glance. The extended silhouette of the bodywork, which has been lowered by
0.79 inch compared to the Cayman S, combined with the distinctive fixed rear
spoiler, the high-quality silver-painted wheels and numerous sporting highlights
on both the interior and exterior, ensures an individual appearance. The
black-framed headlights, black exterior mirrors and the "PORSCHE" lettering on
the side - in contrasting black or silver, depending on the body color - take
design cues from classic Porsche racing cars.
Precisely this lettering
was the trademark of the first Porsche with the "R" designation, the 911 R of
1967. It was created for racing sport use in a small series of 19 cars. The "R"
was a prototype based on the standard coupe with a 210 horsepower Carrera 6
engine and, thanks to its many plastic components and extremely sparse
equipment, weighed only 1830 lbs.
The new Porsche Cayman R will go on
sale from February 2011. The price in Germany will be EUR 69,830 inclusive of 19
percent VAT and country-specific equipment items.